Semi-automatic dryer feeder



April 6, 1965 J. A. SCHIKOFSKY 3,176,822

SEMI-AUTOMATIC DRYER FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1962 INVENTOR JACK A. SCHIKOFSKY ITTO/P/VEYS' A ril 6, 1965 11- A. SCHIKOFSKY 3,176,322

SEMI-AUTOMATIC DRYER FEEDER Filed Dec. 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JACK A. SCHIKOFSKY fM (QM 0W United States Patent 3,176,822 SEMI-AUTOMATIC DRYER FEEDER Jack A. Schilrofsky, Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Weyerhaeuser Company, Tacoma, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed Dec. 21, 1962, Ser. No. 246,586 3 Claims. (Cl. 198-41) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for semi-automatically feeding veneer sheets into a dryer. Specifically, this invention relates to a method of and apparatus for semi-automatically feeding veneer sheets into a dryer in such a manner that a plurality of matched veneer sheets simultaneously are placed into a dryer.

In the art of drying veneer sheets, it is the practice to place the veneer sheets on a moving conveyor a piece at a time. As a result, the veneer sheets go into the dryer in a random manner. When the veneer sheets come out of the dryer in this manner, they tend to be stacked by the handlers in a non-uniform manner.

This method of feeding veneer sheets into the dryer has a particular disadvantage when drying matched sheets because the sheets must be sorted and re-graded after the drying operation. This is a time-consuming and costly operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of and apparatus for simultaneously feeding matched veneer sheets into a dryer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for simultaneously feeding veneer sheets into a dryer in such a fashion that the veneer sheets will not have to be re-sorted and re-graded after the drying operation.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become clear to those skilled in the art when taken in conjunction with the following description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the dryer feeder during its initial loading stage.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the dryer feeder as shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan View of the dryer feeder similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the feeder mechanism in its loaded position.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the dryer feeder similar to FIGURE 2 but illustrating the dryer feeder after its load has been deposited onto the drying rollers.

Referring to the drawings, generally indicated at station 1 is the dryer feeder of the present invention. The dryer feeder 1 is generally composed of a table 2 of suitable width and length. Mounted on the table 2 are conveyor belts 3 that continuously move in the direction of the arrows. The movement of the belts 3 is brought about by a plurality of pulleys 4 suitably connected to a power source, not shown. In this manner, the veneer sheets 5 are fed crosswise or transversely onto the table 2.

The cross-feed conveyor table 2 is suitably secured to the end of a frame 13 that carries the dryer rollers 12 suitably mounted on shafts 14. The dryer rollers 12 are suitably secured to a power source, not shown, to convey the veneer sheets 5 into the dryer, not shown.

Connected to the cross-feed conveyor table and adjacent to the frame 13 is a bottom roller 6. The ends of the bottom roller 6 are provided with reduced portions 7 so that the roller 6 can be suitably mounted onto the cross feed conveyor table 2. Mounted on one end of the reduced portion 7 is a sprocket member 8. The sprocket member 8 is interconnected to a motor or power means 9 by belt or chains 10 (FIGURE 2). Accordingly, when the motor 9 is turned on, the roller 6 then is rotated.

Mounted directly above the roller 6 are a plurality of "ice wheel members 28. The wheels 28 are mounted on shaft 29. The shaft 29 is interconnected to a rod or support shaft 15 by means of support arms 25 that are interconnected to yokes 26 which are connected to the shaft '29. The arms 25 and yokes 26 are interconnected by adjustment bolts 27 so that the distance between the roller 6 and the wheels 28 can be varied.

The support rod or shaft 15 is provided with a reduced portion 16 on both ends thereof. The rod or shaft 15 is supported by the frame 13 by a bearing member 17 on each end thereof mounted on the reduced portions 16.

The support rod or shaft 15 is caused to rotate in the bearing member 17 by a hydraulic motor 22 or other similar means. The hydraulic motor 22 is mounted at one end on a pivot pin 23 on a base member 24. At the opposite end an extension of the piston rod 21 of the hydraulic motor 22 is interconnected to a lever arm 19 through the mechanism of an eye member 20 on one end of the lever arm 19. The other end of the lever arm 19 is connected to the shaft portion 16 through a coupler member 18. In this manner, the rod or shaft 15 is caused to rotate and raise or lower the wheels 28 when the piston rod 21 is extended or retracted.

In operation, the operator loading the veneer sheets 5 onto the cross-feed conveyor table 2 stands in front of a supply of matched veneer sheets 30. The operator then places the sheets 5 onto the conveyor belts 3 in a uniform manner with the forward end of the sheets on top of the roller 6 and between the roller 6 and wheels 28. When the cross-feed conveyor table 2 is loaded, the first veneer sheet 5 fed onto the cross-feed conveyor table 2 will proceed to a predetermined station and there will contact a limit switch 11. This stops the forward motion of conveyor belts 3 and initiates down movement of the wheels 28 by retracting the piston arm 21. Simultaneously, the limit switch 11 initiates the motor 9 (FIG- URE 2) which turns the roller 6 at a rapid pace through the mechanism of the sprocket 8 mounted on the shaft 7 and belts 10. This will quickly convey all of the .veneer sheets 5 which have been placed on the conveyor table 2 onto the dryer rollers 12 as a unit. In this regard, it should be pointed out that the rotation speed of the roller 6 is such that it is faster than the roller speed of the rollers 12. In this manner, the operator will have time to reload the cross-feed conveyor belts 3, the forward movement of which has been restarted by release of the limit switch 11 before the first load is completely into the dryer. Accordingly, the dryer is at all times uniformly filled with the veneer sheets 5 to be dried.

When the veneer sheets 5 have been placed onto the rollers 12, the wheels 28 are raised by extending arm 21 and the loading cycle is begun again.

While specific details of a preferred embodiment have been set forth above, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will therefore be understood that What has been described herein is intended to be illustrative only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for conveying a plurality of veneer sheets onto a dryer conveyor, comprising: a dryer conveyor, a cross-feed conveyor table adapted to carry the veneer sheets transversely of the direction of travel of the dryer conveyor to a predetermined station, a limit switch mounted on said conveyor table at said station and adapted to be actuated by said veneer sheets, a bottom roller mounted on said conveyor table adjacent the dryer conveyor and adapted to move the plurality of veneer sheets uniformly onto the dryer conveyor, wheel means rotatably mounted on a shaft directly above said bottom rollers, and means actuated by said limit switch to rotate said shaft and move said wheel to their upper and lower positions.

3. An apparatus for conveying a plurality of veneer sheets onto a dryer conveyor, comprising: a dryer feeder; a cross-feed conveyor table provided with belt means positioned adjacent said dryer conveyor and adapted to carry the veneer sheets transversely of the direction of travel of the dryer conveyor to a predetermined station; a limit switch mounted on said conveyor table at said station and adapted to be actuated by said veneer sheets; a bottom 4 roller mounted on said conveyor table adjacent saiddryer conveyor and adapted to move the plurality of veneer sheets uniformly onto the dryer conveyor; power means connectedto said bottom roller and adapted to rotate said bottom roller; wheel means rotatably mounted on a shaft directly above said bottom rollers; and hydraulic means actuated by said limit switch to rotate said shaft and move said wheels to their upper and lower positions.

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,583 6/90 Knapp. 1,994,012 3 3 5 Broadmeyer. 2,184,905 12/39 Brintnall 198-34 2,668,708 2/54 Back. 2,881,898 4/59 Reilly 198-21 X 2,904,163 9/59 Golding 198--21 X SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Acting Primary Examiner. EDWARD A. SROKA, Examiner. f

' nm'rEn STATES PATENT OFFICE TIFICATE 0F CORRECTION CE Patent Noe 5,176,822 April 6,. 1965 Jack A., Schikofsky error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that at the said Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and th corrected below.

Column 3, lines 1 and 2, strike out "table adapted to carry the veyor," and insert instead comprising: a dryer conveyor, a

Signed and sealed this 29th day of March 19660 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD -J. BRENNER Cossioner of Patents ERNEST W. SER

Attesting Officer 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING A PLURALITY OF VENEER SHEETS ONTO A DRYER CONVEYOR, COMPRISING: A DRYER CONVEYOR; A CROSS-FEED CONVEYOR TABLE ADAPTED TO CARRY THE VENEER SHEETS TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL OF THE DRYER CONVEYOR TO A PREDETERMINED STATION, A BOTTOM ROLLER MOUNTED ON SAID CONVEYOR TABLE ADJACENT THE DRYER CONVEYOR CONNECTED TO A POWER SOURCE AND ADAPTED TO CONVEY THE PLURALITY OF VENEER SHEETS UNIFORMLY ONTO THE DRYER CONVEYOR, A PLURALITY OF WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED ABOVE SAID BOTTOM ROLLER AND MEANS TO LOWER THE WHEEL MEANS INTO GRIPPING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID BOTTOM ROLLER. 